A lawsuit filed by the mother of 15-year-old Coptic twins, Mario and Andrew, was rejected by an administrative judicial court on March 30 in Egypt. Camilia Lutfi filed the lawsuit against the Interior Minister and the director of the Civil Status Department for refusing to re-instate the Christian religion on the boys' birth certificates. Mario and Andrew's certificates were changed to reflect Islam as their religion when their father converted in 2005 (click here for more information). Camilia desires to restore her sons' identity as Christians on their birth certificates before they turn 16 in June, the age at which national ID cards are issued in Egypt. She fears that if their ID cards are issued with Islam as their religious affiliation, they will be considered apostates if they try to change their cards to reflect their Christian faith. Mario and Andrew were reportedly extremely disappointed with the verdict, saying "faith is not by force, we want to remain Christians and we do not wish to become Muslims." (Source: Assyrian International News Agency)
Pray that Mario and Andrew's birth certificates will be changed before their national ID cards are issued this June. Pray that they will rejoice in the opportunity to grow in Christlikeness through the ongoing opposition they face (James 1:2-4). Pray for strength and endurance for Camilia as she fights for her sons' rights. Pray that authorities in Egypt will respect religious freedom.
Legal system Mixed legal system based on Napoleonic civil and penal law, Islamic religious law, and vestiges of colonial-era laws
Source: CIA World Factbook
Pray for Egypt
Pray on behalf of those who are facing economic and social challenges because of their Christian faith. Ask the Lord to provide for their spiritual and practical needs – further strengthening and emboldening them so they can effectively share the message of the Gospel with others in their communities. May the hearts of those who hear it be open and receptive to the wonderful truths contained in God’s Word.
In October 2025, Dr. Augustin Sam'an was arrested and charged with "contempt of Islam" due to the content he shared on his YouTube channel. (More details about his situation are available here.) As a result of the subsequent trial, this Christian scholar/apologist was sentenced on January 3rd to five years of hard labour. Not only were the court proceedings conducted in secret, without due notification given to his family or lawyers, but he was also denied access to legal defence. Finally, Dr. Augustin's lawyers were granted access to the file relating to his case on February 11th.
A church in Egypt. Photo: Flickr / David Hoffman (CC)
In 2016, legislation was passed to expedite the approval process for churches in Egypt. Prior to this, congregations that had applied for registration encountered significant opposition over the years, and the construction of new worship facilities was often delayed. Since 2017, however, the committee responsible for reviewing the applications approved an average of approximately 475 churches each year.
On April 21st, legal proceedings began in the case against Saeid Abdulraziq, a Christian convert in Egypt. Although the believer has been accused under the country's anti-terrorism laws, advocates believe his arrest is primarily linked to his conversion to Christianity and subsequent involvement in faith-related activities. (To access a previously published report regarding Saeid's case, go to this report.)
Saeid Mansour Abdulraziq converted from Islam to Christianity in 2016, joining the Russian Orthodox Church. Immediately following his conversion, he began experiencing harassment and intimidation from his family members, the wider community, and local police. In an effort to find safety, Saeid sought asylum in Russia but was forced to return to Egypt in 2024.
Population
